What follows is the text of the keynote address by Julia Ayala Harris, President of the House of Deputies, delivered on Friday, October 18, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan at the Primary Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. You can watch this address here, beginning at 04:05:38
Introduction
Good evening, my dear siblings in Christ!
What a joy it is to be here with you all on this truly historic occasion – the very first convention of the Diocese of the Great Lakes! I can feel the excitement and anticipation in this room, and let me tell you, it’s contagious!
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Julia Ayala Harris, and I have the incredible privilege of serving as the President of the House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church. What my role really means is that I get to work alongside some of the most passionate, faithful Church Nerds and Governance Geeks in our church – people just like you!
Now, I must confess, I’m not a Michigan native, but thanks to a college roommate from the Great Lakes State, I’ve spent quite a few holiday breaks here. So I know enough to say: if you don’t like the weather right now, just wait five minutes! And let me tell you, getting here was an adventure. I think even God had to make a “Michigan Left” to bring us all together today!
Speaking of Michigan weather, I’ve heard rumors that the Holy Spirit might be bringing some “lake effect inspiration” to our proceedings. So don’t be surprised if we’re suddenly blanketed in brilliant ideas and showered with divine wisdom!
All joking aside, I want you to know how deeply honored I am to have been invited to speak with you today. When your leadership reached out to me, I felt both humbled and thrilled. Humbled because, well, who am I to stand before you on such a momentous day? And thrilled because I’ve been watching your journey from afar, praying for you, and cheering you on every step of the way.
You see, what’s happening here in the Diocese of the Great Lakes isn’t just a local event. It’s a beacon of hope and a model of courage for our entire church. You’re embarking on a grand adventure, charting a course that many others will look to for inspiration and guidance.
So, thank you. Thank you for having me here. Thank you for your courage in taking this bold step. And thank you for letting me be a small part of this incredible moment in your shared history.
Isaiah 43:19
My friends, I want us to turn our hearts and minds to a passage of Scripture that I believe speaks directly to this moment in your journey. It’s from the book of Isaiah, chapter 43, verse 19.
“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
As I read these words, I can’t help but add: Do you feel it? Because I certainly do, standing here with you today.
These words, spoken by God to the Israelites in a time of great change, resonate deeply with us right now. Just as God promised to do a new thing for their people then, God is doing a new thing among you now. You are about to become a new diocese. This isn’t just an administrative shuffle or a name change. No, this is about embracing a new way of being church in your communities.
You’re creating a new identity. And let me tell you, that’s both exciting and, I imagine, a little scary. It’s like you’re standing on the edge of a new frontier, looking out at a landscape full of possibility, but also full of unknowns.
I bet many of you feel like you’ve been making a way in the wilderness these past months and years. The process of coming together, of reimagining what your shared ministry could look like – it hasn’t always been easy, has it? There have probably been moments when it felt like you were trudging through a desert, unsure of where the next oasis might be.
But here’s the thing – God promises to make a way in that wilderness. God promises rivers in the desert. And I see that promise being fulfilled right here, right now, in this new Diocese of the Great Lakes.
Parallel Journeys
Now, I want to get a bit personal with you for a moment. When I read this passage from Isaiah, when I think about what you’ve been going through, it resonates with me on a deep level. Because I believe I’ve been through something similar.
In the two years that I have been president of the House of Deputies, I have felt that I have been on a parallel journey with you. While I’ve been watching from afar and remaining quite quiet, I want you to know that I have been praying deeply and consistently for you all. For there have been times when I have felt my own personal trauma reflected in your last few years.
We have both experienced the upheaval and terrifying roller coaster that comes with the title IV process with a bishop in the church. We have cried the same tears, felt the same disbelief.
But here’s what else I know – we have both survived to be stronger, more compassionate, and with greater capacity to handle the challenges that this world will throw at us. We have seen God make a way in the wilderness. We have witnessed rivers spring forth in the desert.
My dear friends, we have indeed walked a difficult and often lonely path. Though we’ve been on parallel journeys, it may have felt like we were trudging through the wilderness alone. But I want you to know something – you were never truly alone. God was with you every step of the way, and the prayers and grief and hopes of the wider church were with you too.
Now, as we gather for this inaugural diocesan convention, we have a beautiful opportunity. We choose to walk this path together, no longer isolated, but united in the love of Jesus Christ and in our shared commitment to this Episcopal Church that we cherish so deeply. This is the moment where our parallel paths converge, where we join hands and hearts to move forward as one body in Christ.
Finding Our Identity
But as we step into this new chapter together, we face an important question: Who are we? Not just as individuals, but as this newly formed Diocese of the Great Lakes. This brings me to another quote that I believe speaks powerfully to our situation. It’s not from Scripture this time, but from a modern-day prophet – Dolly Parton. She once said, “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”
Now, you might be wondering what Dolly Parton has to do with our diocesan convention, but hear me out. This simple statement carries profound truth for us in this moment of transition and new beginnings.
“Find out who you are” – this is an invitation to deep, honest self-exploration. It’s about understanding our collective identity as the Diocese of the Great Lakes. What are our shared values? What unique gifts and perspectives do we bring to the wider church? What is our particular calling in this time and place?
And then, to “do it on purpose” – this is about intentionality. Once we understand who we are, how do we live that out deliberately in our ministries, our outreach, our worship, and our daily lives? How do we ensure that every action we take as a diocese reflects our true identity in Christ?
This process of self-discovery and purposeful living isn’t just for us as a collective. It’s also a journey each of us is called to as individual followers of Christ. In our spiritual lives, we’re constantly uncovering new depths of who we are in God’s eyes, and learning to live out that identity more fully.
As we embark on this exploration together, we have a unique opportunity. We can support each other in this journey of self-awareness. We can challenge each other to dig deeper, to be more authentic, to align our actions more closely with our true selves in Christ.
So I invite you, Diocese of the Great Lakes, to take Dolly’s words to heart. Let’s commit ourselves to finding out who we truly are – as individuals, as communities, and as this new diocese. And then, let’s have the courage to live that out on purpose, with all the passion, creativity, and love that God has poured into us.
Moving Forward Together
As we embrace this journey of self-discovery and purposeful living, my friends, we must recognize the incredible opportunity that lies before us. This juncture, this creation of the Diocese of the Great Lakes, is not just an administrative reshuffling. It’s a chance for a new beginning, a fresh start, a reimagining of what it means to be the Church in this time and place, a response to the calling of the spirit and the movement of community.
This new beginning calls us to unity and collaboration in ways we may not have experienced before. You’re no longer separate entities working in parallel, but one body with diverse parts, each vital to the functioning of the whole. I challenge you to lean into this unity. Seek out opportunities to work together across your previous boundaries. Share resources, ideas, and ministries. Let the strengths of each former diocese become the strengths of your new, united body.
But remember that unity doesn’t mean uniformity. In fact, it calls for something much more challenging and beautiful – intentional discipleship and authentic participation. Each of you, whether clergy or lay, whether from a large urban parish or a small rural church, has a unique role to play in this new diocese. Your authentic self, your genuine gifts, your honest struggles – all of these are needed for the body to function as God intends.
In this, we can take inspiration from the early church. Remember, those first followers of Jesus came from wildly diverse backgrounds – Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, educated and illiterate. Yet they found common bonds of affection in their shared love for Christ and their commitment to living out the Gospel. They didn’t erase their differences; they celebrated how those differences enriched their community and expanded their mission.
Now, I know that this all sounds wonderful in theory, but I also want to acknowledge the very real challenges we’re facing. We can’t ignore the declining membership that many of our churches are
experiencing. We can’t pretend that the cultural landscape around us isn’t shifting rapidly. These are real issues that require our attention and our action.
Here’s the thing – these challenges also present us with opportunities. They call us to be open to experimentation, to be willing to adapt and try new things. The Diocese of the Great Lakes has a chance to be at the forefront of this adaptive work. You are a laboratory for new ways of being church, for innovative approaches to ministry and mission.
And you’re not alone in this. What you’re doing here is part of a larger movement within The Episcopal Church towards greater unity and collaboration. Across the country, dioceses are exploring new ways to work together, to share resources, to reimagine structures. Your journey is both unique and part of this broader story of transformation in our church.
But let’s remember, all of this – the self-discovery, the unity, the adaptation – it’s not just for our own sake. It’s about better equipping us to connect with people for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. That’s our ultimate calling. We’re here to share the love of Christ, to proclaim the good news, to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities.
So as you move forward as the Diocese of the Great Lakes, I encourage you to keep this mission at the forefront. Every decision you make, every new initiative you launch, every relationship you build – let it all be in service of connecting people with the transformative love of Christ.
You have a tremendous opportunity before you. Yes, there will be challenges. Yes, there will be moments of uncertainty. But you also have the chance to write a new chapter in the story of The Episcopal Church, a chapter of courage, innovation, and deep faithfulness to the Gospel.
So, Diocese of the Great Lakes, are you ready? Are you ready to step boldly into this new beginning? Are you ready to embrace unity while celebrating diversity? Are you ready to experiment, to adapt, to reimagine what it means to be the church in the 21st century? And most importantly, are you ready to do all of this in service of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ?
I believe you are. And I believe that God is already at work among you, doing a new thing, making a way in the wilderness, and bringing forth rivers in the desert. Let’s step into this future together, with hope, with courage, and with an unwavering commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Power of Small Town and Rural Churches
Now, I want to shine a spotlight on something that I believe is one of the greatest strengths of this new Diocese of the Great Lakes – your small town and rural churches. You know, sometimes in the wider church, we can get caught up in numbers and sizes, forgetting the incredible power and importance of our smaller parishes. But not today. Today, we’re going to celebrate them.
These small town and rural churches are the backbone of The Episcopal Church. They are often the lifelines of their communities, providing not just spiritual nourishment, but tangible support and love to their neighbors. From food pantries to after-school programs, from visiting the sick to welcoming the stranger – these churches embody Christ’s love in powerful, practical ways.
Let me share some data with you that might surprise you. Did you know that in our church, the average Sunday attendance of one-third of our congregations is under 50? That’s right – small parishes aren’t the exception, they’re the norm. They’re who we are as Episcopalians.
But here’s the thing – the impact of a church isn’t measured by the number of people in the pews. It’s measured by the love shown, the lives touched, the community transformed. So I want to encourage you to take pride in your congregational identity, regardless of your size. Because each of you, whether you’re a church of 200 or 15, has a vital role to play in this diocese and in God’s kingdom.
In fact, I believe these small churches are key to our “DNA of change” and adaptability. They often have to be creative, flexible, and deeply in tune with their communities. They know how to do a lot with a little, how to adapt quickly to changing needs. These are exactly the skills our whole church needs as we move into the future.
The Future of the Church: Embracing Lay Ministry
And speaking of the future, let’s talk about where I believe the church is headed – towards a model that embraces and empowers lay ministry like never before.
The landscape of church leadership is changing, my friends. We’re moving away from a model where ministry is the sole responsibility of ordained clergy, to one where every baptized person is recognized as a minister of the Gospel. This isn’t a new idea – it’s actually a return to the understanding of the early church. But it feels revolutionary in our time.
Lay ministry isn’t just about filling gaps or helping out. It’s about recognizing that each of us have been gifted by God for the building up of the body of Christ. It’s about creating space for every member to actively participate in and lead the ministries of the church.
This shift is crucial for the future of our church. It’s how we’ll remain vital and relevant in our communities. It’s how we’ll have the people-power to try new things, to experiment with new forms of ministry. And it’s how we’ll truly live into our baptismal covenant to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.
Remember, the impact of our churches isn’t measured just by numbers in the pews or dollars in the bank. It’s measured by the fruit of our ministries – by lives transformed, by communities served, by the love of Christ made tangible in the world.
Diocese of the Great Lakes, I believe you have the potential to be a model of this kind of adaptation and unity for our wider church. You’re already embracing change through this merger. But I want to encourage you to think of this as just the first chapter in the story of what you can become.
Yes, you heard that right – the first chapter. Because the work of adapting to serve God’s mission in the world is never done. We’re always learning, always growing, always discerning where the Spirit is leading us next. So celebrate this moment, absolutely. But also stay open to where God might be calling you to change and grow in the future.
You have embarked on a journey of transformation, and I believe your witness will inspire and guide others in our church who are grappling with similar challenges and opportunities. Your willingness to come together, to reimagine what it means to be the church in your context – this is a beacon of hope for the entire Episcopal Church.
So, my friends, embrace your small churches. Empower your lay members. Be proud of who you are, but always remain open to who God is calling you to become. Because together – clergy and lay, urban and rural, large parishes and small – you are the Body of Christ in this place. And together, with God’s help, there’s no limit to the impact you can have for the Kingdom of God.
Conclusion
My dear friends in Christ, as we come to the close of our time together, I want you to know that you are in my heart and in my prayers. This journey you’re embarking on as the joint Diocese of the Great Lakes is not an easy one, but it is a holy one. And you do not walk it alone. The prayers and support of the entire Episcopal Church go with you.
The future that lies before you is bright with potential. You have the opportunity to be a shining example of what can happen when God’s people come together in unity, when they dare to reimagine what it means to be the church in the 21st century. The Diocese of the Great Lakes – your name itself speaks of vastness, of depth, of life-giving waters. And I believe that’s exactly what you can be for our church and for the world.
But realizing this potential will require boldness. It will require courage. It will require a willingness to step out in faith, to try new things, to risk failure for the sake of the Gospel. So I encourage you – be bold in this new identity you’re forging. Don’t be afraid to experiment, to innovate, to push boundaries. Learn from your successes, yes, but also learn from your failures. Because in both, God is at work, shaping you and molding you for God’s purposes.
Remember, you are called not just to exist, but to proclaim. To proclaim the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ. To embody that love in your communities, to be the hands and feet of Christ in a world that so desperately needs this healing touch. This is your mission, your purpose, your reason for being.
So when God says, “I am about to do a new thing,” I want you to hear that not just as a promise, but as a reality that is unfolding right here, right now. In your coming together, in your willingness to reimagine what it means to be the church in this time and place, you are participating in God’s new thing.
The question is – do you perceive it? Do you feel it? Can you see how the Holy Spirit is already at work in your midst, springing forth new life, new possibilities, new ways of being the body of Christ in your communities?
My prayer for you today is that you will not only perceive it, but that you will embrace it with all your hearts. Because this new thing God is doing? It’s not just for you. It’s a beacon of hope and a model of faithfulness for our entire church.
Diocese of the Great Lakes, you stand at the threshold of a new era. The path ahead may not always be clear, but the One who calls you is faithful. Trust in the Holy Spirit. Lean on each other. Be the church that God is calling you to be in this time and in this place.
May you go forth from this place filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit. May you be bold in proclaiming the Gospel, creative in serving your communities, and united in your love for Christ and for one another. May you be living testimony to the power of God to do a new thing, to make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
And may you always remember that you are loved – loved beyond measure by the God who created you, redeemed you, and sustains you. Loved by your siblings in Christ across this church. And yes, loved by me.
In fact, I’m not just giving a thumbs up to this new diocese – I’m giving a whole mitten up!
Go forth, Diocese of the Great Lakes. Go forth and be the church. Go forth and change the world. Go forth and make real the kingdom of God in your midst. For God is doing a new thing, and you – you are part of it.
Thanks be to God!
